Together, the physicians developed a treatment plan for the child, which included referring him to neurology, asthma and allergy specialists for further testing and care.

"Bridging the gap between the eastern and western shores without having to transfer a patient is a wonderful opportunity that this technology has given us," said Marc T. Zubrow, MD, vice president of telemedicine for the Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical System.

Without telemedicine, the Thomas family would have had to travel more than 90 minutes to the University of Maryland Children's Hospital in Baltimore.

"This is the direction in which healthcare is heading and will be vital to rural communities such as the ones here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland," said Walter Atha, MD, regional director of emergency medicine at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health.